Shortstop

Shortstop

Shortstop, abbreviated "SS", is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the ball slightly, so more balls go to the shortstop than any other position. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the shortstop is assigned the number 6.

Shortstops are required to cover second base in double play situations when the ball is hit to the second baseman, first baseman, pitcher, or catcher. They cover second when a runner is attempting a stolen base, but only when a left-handed hitter is batting. This is because the chances of a ball being hit to the left side of the infield are almost cut in half. They also must cover third at various times, including the rotation play; that is, when there are runners on first and second and a sacrifice bunt is attempted. Shortstops generally are given precedence on catching pop-ups in the infield as well, so they end up calling off other players many times, although on deep pop-ups they fall back when called off by an outfielder. The shortstop also has to back up a throw from the catcher to the third baseman when the runner is attempting to steal third base. (Normally this action is not done at the major league level because the catcher is better at throwing, the third baseman is better at catching the ball, and the left fielder is there to back up third base. This action is usually performed in Little League Baseball.)

Traditionally, players are selected as shortstops for their fielding prowess, but in recent years more shortstops with excellent hitting have entered the leagues as well. It is an exclusively right-handed position, as a righty can easily throw to first or second without having to physically turn after playing a ground ball, the most common type of hit directed at the shortstop.

ignificant shortstops

Baseball Hall of Fame members

*Luis Aparicio
*Luke Appling
*Dave Bancroft
*Ernie Banks
*Lou Boudreau
*Joe Cronin
*George Davis
*Travis Jackson
*Hughie Jennings
*John Henry "Pop" Lloyd *
*Rabbit Maranville
*Pee Wee Reese
*Cal Ripken, Jr.
*Phil Rizzuto
*Joe Sewell
*Ozzie Smith
*Joe Tinker
*Arky Vaughan
*Honus Wagner
*Bobby Wallace
*John Montgomery Ward
*Willie Wells *
*George Wright (elected as a pioneer, but also starred as a shortstop in the 1860s & 70s)
*Robin Yount (moved to the outfield for his last nine seasons)

Multiple Gold Glove Award winners

*Ozzie Smith: 13
*Omar Vizquel: 11
*Luis Aparicio: 9
*Mark Belanger: 8
*Dave Concepción: 5
*Tony Fernández: 4
*Alan Trammell: 4
*Derek Jeter: 3
*Barry Larkin: 3
*Roy McMillan: 3
*Rey Ordóñez: 3
*Gene Alley: 2
*Larry Bowa: 2
*Don Kessinger: 2
*Edgar Rentería: 2
*Cal Ripken, Jr.: 2
*Alex Rodriguez: 2
*Zoilo Versalles: 2
*Maury Wills: 2

All time single season assist leaders among shortstops

#Ozzie Smith: 621 (St. Louis Cardinals, 1980)
#Glenn Wright: 601 (Pittsburgh Pirates, 1924)
#Dave Bancroft: 598 (Philadelphia Phillies/New York Giants, 1920)
#Tommy Thevenow: 597 (St. Louis Cardinals, 1926)
#Ivan DeJesus: 595 (Chicago Cubs, 1977)
#Cal Ripken: 583 (Baltimore Orioles, 1984)
#Whitey Wietelmann: 581 (Boston Braves, 1943)
#Dave Bancroft: 579 (New York Giants, 1922)
#Rabbit Maranville: 574 (Boston Braves, 1914)
#Don Kessinger: 573 (Chicago Cubs, 1968)

All time single season putout leaders among shortstops

# Donie Bush: 425 (Detroit Tigers, 1914)
# Hughie Jennings: 425 (Baltimore Orioles [National League] , 1895)
# Joe Cassidy: 408 (Washington Senators, 1905)
# Rabbit Maranville: 407 (Boston Braves, 1914)
# Dave Bancroft: 405 (New York Giants, 1922)
# Eddie Miller: 405 (Boston Braves, 1940)
# Monte Cross: 404 (Philadelphia Phillies, 1898)
# Dave Bancroft: 396 (New York Giants, 1921)
# Mickey Doolan: 395 (Philadelphia Phillies, 1906)
# Buck Weaver: 392 (Chicago White Sox, 1913)

Other notable stars

*Dick Bartell
*Chico Carrasquel
*Bert Campaneris
*Ray Chapman
*Bill Dahlen
*Alvin Dark
*Jim Fregosi
*Jack Glasscock
*Dick Groat
*Steve Jeltz
*Home Run Johnson *
*Herman Long
*Dick Lundy *
*Marty Marion
*Dobie Moore *
*Dickey Pearce
*Johnny Pesky
*Rico Petrocelli
*Jose Reyes
*Jimmy Rollins
*Vern Stephens
*Garry Templeton
*Dickie Thon
*Maury Wills
*Zach Fenton* = Negro Leagues player

ee also

*Gold Glove award winners: AL, NL
*List of Gold Glove middle infield duos
* [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_299b.html One theory of how the shortstop position got its name]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Shortstop — Short stop , n. (Baseball) The player stationed in the field bewtween the second and third bases. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • shortstop — (n.) 1837, from SHORT (Cf. short) (adj.) + STOP (Cf. stop). In cricket, there also is a longstop …   Etymology dictionary

  • shortstop — ☆ shortstop [shôrt′stäp΄ ] n. Baseball 1. the infielder who plays on the left side of the infield near second base and often covers second base 2. the defensive position played by this infielder …   English World dictionary

  • Shortstop — Position des Shortstop Shortstop, abgekürzt SS, ist die Position im Baseball zwischen der zweiten und dritten Base. Der Shortstop wird oftmals als die dynamischste Defensivposition des Baseballs erachtet, da es deutlich mehr rechtshändige als… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Shortstop — Posición del shortstop en el campo de béisbol En béisbol, se llama parador en corto o campocorto o torpedero según el país (shortstop en inglés, abreviado SS) a aquel jugador que ocupa la posición entre la segunda y tercera bases. Esta posición… …   Wikipedia Español

  • shortstop — noun a) The infield defensive player that stands between the second baseman and the third baseman. The shortstop ranged deep into the hole to make the stop. b) A nimble defender. Ill play shortstop when we make our proposal …   Wiktionary

  • shortstop — UK [ˈʃɔː(r)tˌstɒp] / US [ˈʃɔrtˌstɑp] noun [countable/uncountable] Word forms shortstop : singular shortstop plural shortstops a baseball position on the field between second and third base, or a player who plays in this position …   English dictionary

  • shortstop — noun Date: 1857 1. the player position in baseball for defending the infield area on the third base side of second base 2. the player stationed in the shortstop position …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Shortstop — Arrêt court Au baseball, un arrêt court (AC) (shortstop en anglais, terme également utilisé en Europe) est un joueur placé entre le deuxième but et le troisième but. Position dynamique en raison du grand nombre de joueurs droitiers, les arrêt… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • shortstop — /shawrt stop /, n. 1. Baseball. a. the position of the player covering the area of the infield between second and third base. b. a fielder who covers this position. 2. Also called shortstop bath. Photog. See stop bath. [1835 45, Amer.; SHORT +… …   Universalium

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